Full-fledged operations kicked off at all 14 units of Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC) at Atchyuthapuram area of Visakhapatnam city in Andhra Pradesh (India) on Monday.
The 10-day-long strike came to an end at BIAC, following unified efforts of the local administration and the company management to end the impasse.
Confirming the news to Apparel Resources, a Company employee said, “Of the 14, nine units had started working on Wednesday (April 20 ), while the remaining five began operations today (Monday, April 25).”
Deliveries have been effected, but companies are trying to manage it, said another employee on condition of anonymity.
Although no final decision has been taken on wage hike, thousands of workers, mostly women, from all 14 units of the BIAC were on strike, demanding pay hike and continuity in Provident Fund.
The corporate head office in Sri Lanka is expected to take a call on the matter regarding their demands by April 30.
A large majority of these workers, who are women, have demanded that they be given Rs 10,000 as minimum monthly wage. They claimed that they have been working for this company for the past four years for a paltry sum of Rs 4,200 a month.
BIAC, which employs around 16,000 – 19,000 workers, has an expected annual turnover of approximately US $200 million.
Also Read – Deliveries feared effected due to strike at Brandix India Apparel City
Visakhapatnam Collector Dr N Yuvaraj said they are trying to find an amicable solution to the issues raised by the workers.
It is worth mentioning here that the workers are not unified by any trade union. BIAC has several units operating within its perimeters – Quantum Clothing, Pioneer Elastics, Ocean India, Seeds Intimate Apparel and Shore to Shore.
Brandix (Sri Lanka), the Galleon Fund (USA), Pioneer Elastics (Hong Kong) and Quantum Clothing (United Kingdom), Brandot (Martin Trust – USA), Compagnie Mauricienne de Textiles (Mauritius) are the promoters of BIAC.
